Our specially prepared hyacinths are treated to flower on Christmas Day without the aid of a greenhouse. Plant them by the end of September, keep them cool and dark while they root, and they will fill the house with scent through the darkest weeks of the year. Full forcing instructions come with every order.
These are not ordinary hyacinths brought on early. They are lifted sooner than the rest of the crop and then treated in humidity chambers, which advances the flower embryo inside the bulb so that it will respond to a short cool rooting period instead of needing a full winter.
That treatment is not finished until the beginning of September. It is worth knowing, because any prepared hyacinth offered for sale before then cannot have completed it.
The Timing Matters
Pot them by the end of September. Much later than that and Christmas Day becomes a gamble rather than a plan.
Getting Them Right
The whole thing rests on making roots before any top growth. Keep them cool and dark, somewhere around 7 to 10 degrees, with the compost evenly moist, and be patient. Bring them into the light only once the flower bud stands clear of the neck of the bulb and the shoot is 6 to 8cm high. Lift them too early and the bud sticks. Once indoors, keep them well away from direct heat.
Bowls and Fibre
Use a good bulb fibre rather than a soilless compost, which packs down and is difficult to keep evenly damp. Set the bulbs so the top quarter stands proud of the surface, and do not firm them in too hard, or they will push themselves back out as they root.
Since 1948, we at Bloms Bulbs have Won 70 Gold Medals at The Chelsea Flower Show. Our quality guarantee means that all of our customers receive the same stock as shown in our Award Winning displays.
CH | Chelsea
Testimonial
The bulbs supplied by Bloms cost the most, gave the most flowers (26), were of top quality and had the potential of doubling themselves next year. The trials indicated that you get what you pay for.
